Should I Buy This Bass Raider 10E

[JD96]

Ok guys, here's a little info on me.

 

I'm 16, a Junior in High school, and have 2 jobs, I work between 4-6 days a week, my boss, who's been my friend for years prior to me working for him, has a pelican he is letting me fish with before I buy it, I used it for the first time today, and have it in my basement ready for use hopefully tomorrow. He wants 650 for the 10e, in pretty good shape, rarely used, and a Minn Kota Endura 50lb, and a deep cycle battery with plenty of life it seems.

 

My dad owns a 14 ft V hull with a deck he built up front, foot controls, 50lb Endura's front and rear.

But in my 2007 F150 SuperCrew with 6.5 foot bed, I have a hard time backing it up WITH the boat on the trailer, and flat out can't see the short tongue trailer empty, so using it alone isn't practical right now. He will let me, but I lose the enjoyment at the ramp.

 

I live .5 miles from the lake I fish most, a private lake that nobody outside of the neighborhood can access.

 

I like the ability to get the boat out of my truck and get on the water quickly, but it's cramped with a friend in the boat, as I found out tonight.

I also like the ability to "sneak" into some resivours and other electric only lakes.

(the only reason I can't get into them "legally" is because I am a minor, once 18 I can get it, my grandpa is water authority so there'd be no trouble if I got caught.

 

Concerns.

 

How do I bring 3-5 rods ? do ya'll mod these for more than one rod being secured, I have all my money into my Shimano's and I don't want anything to happen to them and they're all set up so I don't have to change lures often.

 

I am just thinking, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get it, but what can I do to make fishing in such a small boat easier, I can't afford to get my own glass boat yet, because of gas costs mainly, towing to Oconee from where I live now would cost 60 in gas for the truck and probably more in the boat because I'd be spending 12 hours on the lake..

 

I know this is a good deal since the boat is 600, the Endura 50 is over 200 and the Marine deep cycle is like 120.

 

So I am getting 920 bucks for 650 basically.

 

Also, if I add another trolling motor to the front, would another 50 be too much for one battery? the rear 50 would be mainly the spot to spot motor, the front being a position keeping motor since these drift to much.

 

Sorry if I rambled too much but I am 16 and love fishing and golf so saving money like this is awesome.

 

 

[flyfisher]

Honestly for all the situations you described i would get a kayak.  It sounds like you want this boat so you are trying to convince yourself this is the one to get instead of looking at your usage and getting the boat best suited to your needs.

 

Also aren't these boats brand new pretty much $600?

[JD96]

Yes, 600 for the boat, no battery, no 50lb trolling motor.

 

I don't like Kayaks or Canoes, I like to stand up and flip and pitch, another thing the pelican would do is get me into tighter spots I can fish, a kayak is a no go.

[flyfisher]

I have no idea what the used market is for these things but paying 650 for something that would cost 900 new seems high to me but like i said, i am not sure on the market for these things.

 

I also understand what you are saying about a kayak but your information is all false....i stand in mine all day long and a kayak will go in skinnier water than any boat really other than maybe an inboard jet on plane...

 

Anyways enjoy your boat and keep in mind of the weight limit as you add motors and potentially  an additional battery.

[tomustang]

My dad owns a 14 ft V hull with a deck he built up front, foot controls, 50lb Endura's front and rear.

But in my 2007 F150 SuperCrew with 6.5 foot bed, I have a hard time backing it up WITH the boat on the trailer, and flat out can't see the short tongue trailer empty, so using it alone isn't practical right now. He will let me, but I lose the enjoyment at the ramp.

 

Practice practice practice..

[Fishes in trees]

No one is born knowing how to back up a trailer.  It takes some practice.  If it was my money, I would save it and learn how to back up the trailer.  Sooner or later you are going to have to learn how to do it.

[CC268]

I love my Pond Prowler so far! (same thing as Bass Raider), but $650 does seem a bit much, unless it is in pretty much new condition. My buddy fishes on a kayak and he loves it, although I wouldn't care to have one as it gets pretty cramped fishing from them with all your gear as well as other numerous things I don't care for. To each his own I guess.

[JD96]

I am gonna have to get it, easy to fish alone and load into my truck.

Going to have the bottom spray bedlined so I can drag it to my hearts content.

[MichiganFishing1997]

Practice practice practice..

I %100 agree. Im the same age, and was in almost the same situation. I have a 16ft aluminium deep v, bough an outboard, and right now I am in the process of restoring the whole thing. Trust me on this, take the hour or two to lear and practice launching the boat by yourself, it will make your experience fishing in a boat a lot better in the long run. Best of luck,

Christian

[Koofy Smacker]

go to an empty parking lot with the trailer and just drive around. Practice backing up and try and get the trailer into the parking spots. One tip for you that you'll get soon enough is the less turning you have to do on the wheel the better you will be. At the launch ramp pull as far forward as you need too to get that trailer straight behind you and just make minor adjustments when necessary. Ive seen more guys pull up crooked to try and do it fast and they end up all side ways on the ramp. Do it slow, have patience and if possible have someone with you who is proficient with a trailer already to help guide you

[flyfisher]

I am gonna have to get it, easy to fish alone and load into my truck.

Going to have the bottom spray bedlined so I can drag it to my hearts content.

I wouldn't wory about putting bedliner on for two main reasons.

 

One the boat will be fine and two the added weight will affect your total weight and when adding another battery and trolling motor the weight limit for gear will be lowered even further.

 

I am pretty sure they are made the same as kayaks and i can say that while i don't abuse mine i don't hesitate to go over rocks, ledges and even drag it down boat ramps.  I haven't sprung a leak and there is still plenty of plastic there.  You would probably want a new boat before you ever wear it out.  Not to mention the added cost could be used for gear instead

[JD96]

Ok I made up my mind after last night, love the boat as long as its just me in it.

Gonna add another trolling motor maybe and find a way to secure 3 rods.

[JD96]

Guys it's also more time consuming to get the boat out of the garage etc.

If I'm fishing all day I take the boat the pelican lets me fish after school and work and not need to worry about much maintenance.

[Bomber7]

Ok I made up my mind after last night, love the boat as long as its just me in it.

Gonna add another trolling motor maybe and find a way to secure 3 rods.

Here is what I did for pole holders - if you don't mind drilling a few small holes into the plastic - get rubber grommets (Home Depot/Lowe's) and those rod holders that push into the ground when fishing from the banks (I got mind at Walmart) - they work great and I can adjust the angle to them as well. 

 

I also mounted rod storage that run length wise on one side of my boat - I can still fit small items underneath the rods. 

[JD96]

That's a sweet set up, first thing I need to do is get my boat cleaned, prev owner sat it outside for a little while and it got some gunk in there, gonna have it looking new this weekend. Got the bottom nice and muddy at a shallow boat launch tonight lololol.

[Bomber7]

That's a sweet set up, first thing I need to do is get my boat cleaned, prev owner sat it outside for a little while and it got some gunk in there, gonna have it looking new this weekend. Got the bottom nice and muddy at a shallow boat launch tonight lololol.

if you are interested in making any modifications in the future a good thread to look at is at the link below.  Lots of good stuff in there - when I first bought my pond hopper I never knew they were so popular.  I was thinking of eventually getting a nice bass boat but since most of the lakes around here are no wake/5 mph restrictions I figured that I would hardly get it out on water where I could open her up.  So the pond boat is more practical for now (still dreaming of one someday).  Anyway this thread is full of pictures and instructions of what others have done to their boats.  I have made some nice adjustments to mine and now it's a very confortable boat to fish from.  I mostly go alone so it is set up that way but I can throw my second seat in it if I need to.  The best thing I did was move the TM to the bow and a rudder on the stern to keep it from bouncing around.  Works great!!  I also put in a plywood floor with a bigfoot peddle for the TM and I love that. 

 

There are about 60 pages in this thread but well worth the look.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/25442-any-pelican-bass-raider-owners-out-there/

[cbass12]

I would be careful dragging it too much on concrete (ramps especially). I used mine for a period of about 6 years and I always drug it up the ramp out of the water. Eventually I put two gashes in the bottom that were about 2-3 inches long, happened on both pontoons in about the same spot. Just something to keep in mind.

[JD96]

If I get 6 years out of a 600 dollar boat, I'll be happy. I'm gonna use the sucker.